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SIM unlock with changed product-code?

3 replies · 3,770 views · Started 23 October 2007

Hi all

I have an N95 with 3 branded firmware and SIM locked to the 3 network.

Next month I'm out of contract and will getting the unlock code from 3, to SIM unlock my phone.

However, I plan to install unbranded firmware on the phone by changing the productcode (I have done it before 3 released version 12.0.013).

Will this have any effect on the SIM unlock if I do it while the phone is still locked?

I.e. should I wait with the firmware/productcode change until the phone has been unlocked?

br
Peter

Peter321 wrote:Hi all

I have an N95 with 3 branded firmware and SIM locked to the 3 network.

Next month I'm out of contract and will getting the unlock code from 3, to SIM unlock my phone.

However, I plan to install unbranded firmware on the phone by changing the productcode (I have done it before 3 released version 12.0.013).

Will this have any effect on the SIM unlock if I do it while the phone is still locked?

I.e. should I wait with the firmware/productcode change until the phone has been unlocked?

br
Peter


Your unlock code is IMEI specific and so it won't matter if you debrand. It's still the network op who will have to supply the code, although I have never been able to understand why.

Peter321 wrote:Hi all

I have an N95 with 3 branded firmware and SIM locked to the 3 network.

Next month I'm out of contract and will getting the unlock code from 3, to SIM unlock my phone.

However, I plan to install unbranded firmware on the phone by changing the productcode (I have done it before 3 released version 12.0.013).

Will this have any effect on the SIM unlock if I do it while the phone is still locked?

I.e. should I wait with the firmware/productcode change until the phone has been unlocked?

br
Peter

Did you only have a 6 month contract or something with 3, as the N95 was only released march 2007.

Yep - the law in Denmark states that carriers are not allowed to lock phones for more than 6 months (or lock you in a contract for more than 6 months) when you are a consumer (businesses can be locked for up to 24 months).

So that's why.

I got a message in another forum stating that the BB5 locking that the N95 uses is based on more than IMEI - including MAC address, BT id AND productcode - but not the firmware.

So it seems you CAN change the firmware by changing the product-code, but you need to change the product-code back afterwards for the unlock-code to work.